Vietnamese Mossy Frog

ANIMAL:
Vietnamese Mossy Frog Theloderma corticale

Type of Animal:
Frog

Habitat:
Limestone cliffs, tropical/subtropical forest, caves, rocky mountain stream banks, rocky pools, water-filled tree trunk/root holes, hollowed logs in pools, steep rocky cliffs, rocky areas surrounded by water/vegetation, rock crevices on stream banks, man-made reservoirs

Location(s):
N Vietnam, Guangxi & Hainan areas of China, & parts of Vietnam-Laos border

Appearance:
Mottled green/brown skin resembling moss, big eyes, black spots, very well camouflaged

Food/Diet:
Insects, insect larvae, worms

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, aquariums, & herpetoculture. Potential reintroduction programs into areas where declining.

Lifestyle:
Small groups of 6-8 frogs

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Tadpole/Froglet
Group: Army

Weight:
Male: 1 oz
Female: 1.5 oz
 
Gestation:
2 weeks

Life Span:
5-6 years in wild, 10-15 years in captivity

Body Length:
Male: 2.75-3.25 in
Female: 3.5-4 in
Tadpole: 0.8 in
Froglet: 1.3 in

Main predators are reptiles, fish, larger amphibians, & bats.
 
Females lay clutches of 6-30 eggs. Male fertilizes eggs as they’re laid or walks over them after being laid. Eggs typically attached to submerged stones/floating vegetation.
 
Metamorphosis from tadpole to froglet lasts 3-8 months. Metamorphosis shorter in warmer water. Froglet stage ends at 10-12 months old, when maturity reached. When metamorphosing, tail becomes stub & front legs develop.
 
Though stable, potential threats are water pollution, pet trade, habitat loss, development, & chytrid fungus.
 
Very shy & secretive in wild.
 
Active at night (nocturnal).
 
Adhesive disks on toes come in handy for climbing trees as well as jumping.
 
Breed from April-June.
 
Males make beautiful hooting calls at night during breeding season.
 
Have excellent vision due to large eyes.
 
Sometimes kept as pets.
 
Usually breed in wet rocky areas & tree crevices/holes.
 
Courtship involves male grasping female from behind (amplexus).
 
Usually hunt 2-3 times a week, primarily relying on camouflage as ambush predators.

Fun Fact(s):
To swallow food, they pull eyes down into mouth roof helping push food down throat.
 
Fold into ball & play dead when frightened/threatened.
 
Also called Tonkin Bug-Eyed Frogs or Warty Frogs.
 
Ventriloquists of frog world, able to throw voices & make self sound like it’s coming farther away from where it actually is.

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